Watch: How Sugar Affects the Brain

“When you eat something loaded with sugar, your taste buds, your gut and your brain all take notice. This activation of your reward system is not unlike how bodies process addictive substances such as alcohol or nicotine — an overload of sugar spikes dopamine levels and leaves you craving more. Nicole Avena explains why sweets and treats should be enjoyed in moderation.”

When Leighann Calentine’s daughter Q was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2008 at the age of three, she began sharing their story on her “mommy blog,” eventually launching D-Mom Blog to help other parents of children with diabetes. Leighann says that like others dealing with diabetes, she and her husband count carbs, carry juice boxes, and are always on call. In her book Kids First, Diabetes Second, she shares how they manage their daughter’s diabetes, first with injections and now with an insulin pump, navigate playing several sports, and tackle sending her to public school, all while making sure that Q is a child first and that diabetes is second.